Buckle.



H. E; LEIBEl` BUCKLE. l APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, |916.

1335,82@ Pmtemg. 7,1917.

saar

HENRY E. LEIIBE, 0F IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY, .ASSIGNOR T0 HENRY L. LEIBE 8c SON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 193W.

Application filed May 26, 19H5. Serial No. 100,051.

article of this character with pressure grip means normally under tension for engaging the strap with which 1t cooperates, and means to release the grip means to effect adjustment of the belt or removal of the strap from engagement.

The above and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by the novel construction. and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and claimed. Reference will now be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view showing a buckle constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of said buckle.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. 4f is a sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 showing the operative connection between the releasing element and the grip member operable thereby. Throughout the following detail description and on the several figures of the drawing, similar parts are referred to by like reference characters.

Specifically describing the invention, and referring tothe drawing, the numeral l designates the frame or shell of the buckle which is of any suitable configuration and material but disclosed in the drawing as rectangular in form. The body of the buckle is slightly curved longitudinally in the cusi tomarv manner and has connected to a pivoted loop or ring 2 at one end the fixed eX- tremity of a belt strap 3. Each end wall of the shell is formed with a slot through which the free end of the belt is adapted to be introduced and said end is passed beneath a pressure grip bar @arranged transversely of the shell and revolubly or pivotally mounted upon the cross bar 5. The gripping edge of the grip bar is preferably grooved as indicated at 6 to provide for proper gripping action in engaging the belt strap. This member in the specific construction is provided with an eye or loop 7 at each end which surrounds the cross bar hereinbefore referred to. lintermediate the loops 7 a spring 4 surrounds-the said bar and 1s connected at one end to the gripping `member 4L while at its other end it is secured to a hollow or tubular member 8 parallel with the cross bar 5 and directly adjacent thereto. One of the loops .7, preferably the upper one, 1s formed with a spiral cam 9 .which projects laterally as shown in Fig. 5 into engagement with a manually releasing button or plunger 10.

The plunger is provided with a headed extremity projecting from the lower side of the shell l in convenient position for manipulation by the wearer of the belt device. At an intermediate point the shank of the button member is slotted as indicated at l1 to receive the spiral cam 9: It will be observed by reference to Fig. 5 that said button member as Well as the ltubular member 8 in which 1t 1s reclprocally mounted, is rectangular in cross section so as to prevent any tendency of rotation of the button in -pperation.

It will be obvious from the foregoing d escription that in the use of this buckle the free end of the strap is inserted through the slotted ends of the shell and beneath the pressure grip member 4 which readily yields upon introduction of the strap into operative position. Owing 'to the spring tension of the grip member the strap is positively engaged at any point desired and doesl not require any tension yon the belt strap to maintain this gripl'action normally. It, therefore; follows that even when loose there will not be any tendency of the belt to slip While the gripping action of the presinbefore as applicable to use in conjunction with belts, I desire it to be understood that I do not wish to be confined to such application since it may readily be adapted for use with Suspenders, hose supporters and similar articles.

. By reason of the special formation of the edge of the gripping member 4 so that the ridges formed by grooving the edge are graduated, this device is thus capable of use with straps of different thicknesses.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new is:

1. A belt buckle comprising a frame, a strap engaging member mounted thereon, an operating member arranged adjacent to said strap engaging member and movable longitudinally thereof, Aand an interlocking con- -nection intermediate said strap engaging and operating members whereby the former may be actuated to effect release of the strap.

2. A buckle comprising a frame, a transverse `strap engaging grip bar rotatably mounted in the frame, and actuating means mounted in the frame for movement parallel to said grip bar and operatively connected to the grip-bar. u i

3. A belt buckle comprising a shell, a grip bar rotatably mounted therein, a push button arranged adjacent to the bar, a spiral camon said grip bar engaged by the push button aforesaid, and supporting means for said push button to, guide the latter.

4. A belt buckle comprising a shell, al

strap engaging member carried thereby, a

releasing member adjacent thereto and projccting from the shell, a tubular guide support for said releasing member, and an operative connection intermediate the releasing and strap engaging members.

5. A belt buckle comprising a shell, a spring actuated grip bar pivotally mounted therein, a spiral cam projecting laterally from the bar, a push button arranged adja- Y cent'to the bar and having a slotted stem to receive the cam, 'and vmeans for holding the ush button in operative relation tothe grip ar. 6. A buckle frame comprising sides an, end portions, a rotative grip bar having its ends mounted in bearings in the side por-v separate movablyl mounted push member disposed on the frame, and an actuating connection between said push -member andthe grip bar for imparting positive movement to the Grip member separate from the movement o? the push member whereby to control the strap engaging action of the grip bar.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

HENRY E. LEIBE. 

